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How the Most Resilient Companies Adapt to Disruption

How the Most Resilient Companies Adapt to Disruption

BlueSky Thinking Summary

The article examines how companies—especially those in emerging markets—build resilience by embracing uncertainty as a strategic asset.

It outlines six core principles drawn from decades of case research and practical examples like M-Pesa, Natura & Co, Haier, and Embraer.

First, organizations must learn quickly and pivot decisively, designing operations that anticipate disruption.

Second, local partnerships provide contextual insight and operational flexibility when global systems falter.

Third, redundant infrastructure—not wasteful duplication—offers operational buffers that sustain continuity.

Fourth, decentralizing decision-making empowers frontline teams to act on emergent challenges without delay.

Fifth, distributed supply chains spread risk across regions and enable rapid rerouting.

Sixth, embedding resilience as a mindset—rather than a one-off strategy—creates an adaptive culture that thrives amid volatility.

For global executives, the message is clear: building future-ready organizations means teaching them to surf disruption, not just weather storms.